Athens floods February 2013

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Torrential rain of an intensity not seen in decades flooded roads in Athens on Friday 22 February 2013. The amount of rain was equal to the average rainfall for the entire month of February. More than six hours of solid rainfall starting at 5am flooded Athens streets.

Meteorologists said the scale of Friday's downpour was unusual and was the heaviest rainfall in 50 to 60 years.

Effects of the floods included:

overturning parked cars and stranding dozens of motorists, including a 28-year-old woman who died of what appeared to be a heart attack.

two rivers broke their banks and paralysed public transport, causing traffic chaos as tens of thousands of Athenians sought to reach their offices during the morning rush hour.

Two electricity substations were deluged, causing power cuts, and the fire service was besieged with more than 800 calls from residents with flooded homes and 100 from motorists stuck in floodwaters.